The schedule of events for the annual Veterans Week celebration was released this week. The schedule lists several events and ways for people to honor those who served their country in the armed forces.
The week’s activities include:
• Monday, Nov. 4: ROTC 5K Walk/Run, 6 a.m., Brian Brown Memorial Greenway (start and finish near Blake’s at Southern Milling at 109 S. Lindell), hosted by Skyhawk Battalion.
• Wednesday, Nov. 6: Army ROTC veterans, staff, cadets trip to W.D. “Bill” Manning Tennessee State Veterans Home (2865 E. Main St., Humboldt), 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 7: Veteran Bowl, 7 a.m., traditional veterans vs. cadets flag football game at Hardy M. Graham Stadium.
• Friday, Nov. 8: Veterans Program, 3 p.m., Watkins Auditorium, Boling University Center; guest speaker is Dr. Michael O’Neill, director of public safety and retired sergeant major (Army Reserve); Army Band classical rock and rhythm and blues performance, 4 p.m., Watkins Auditorium.
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Veterans Day Parade, 10 a.m.; Missing Man ceremony, following parade, Martin Public Library Stage; veterans luncheon, American Legion Post 55 (221 Central St., Martin), following the Missing Man ceremony.
The Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 9 will begin at the corner of Lovelace Avenue and University Street and continue through downtown Martin.
• Monday, Nov. 11: Veterans Walk, 3 p.m., Boling University Center to Capt. Brent Morel Memorial Bridge to Gooch Hall. This event was postponed from Tuesday, Nov. 5, due to inclement weather.
The bridge’s namesake, Marine Corps Capt. Brent Morel, graduated from UT Martin in 1999 and was killed in combat near Fallujah, Iraq, on April 7, 2004. He was a native of Martin and a graduate of Bartlett High School. He was part of a convoy when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. As the company commander, he and several of his men ran across open terrain toward the attackers, changing the momentum of the battle. He was the only American killed in the assault. The bridge is on University Street near the intersection with Skyhawk Parkway (Tenn. 43).
The Skyhawks’ Nov. 16 home game against Tennessee Tech is designated the Military Appreciation Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hardy M. Graham Stadium.
Samantha Hutcherson, the associate director of development for corporate relations in the UTM Office of University Advancement, said this year, Veterans Week events will be supported by D&B Properties/ Sonic Drive-In with locations in Martin and Greenfield in Weakley County and in five other states.
“They are very passionate about supporting veterans, veterans affairs, and their communities, so this just seemed like the perfect marriage for UT Martin and D&B Properties/Sonic to partner,” she said.
The company provided $500 to the UTM Gold Star Families Scholarship last year as well as 140 slushies to bring to the W.D. “Bill” Manning Tennessee State Veterans Home.
The Gold Star Families Scholarship is given in honor of UT Martin students who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Two $500 scholarships are awarded every year. Veterans, active-duty military, and National Guard members attending UTM for undergraduate school are eligible to receive the scholarship.
Sarah Mathis, marketing director for D&B Properties/Sonic Drive-Ins, said the company is making a monetary donation toward the events of the week.
“We’ll also donate coupons to hand out throughout the week, bottled water for the 5K race, and we’ll help them raise some funds through the Nov. 16 football game by donating a $100 Visa gift card as a prize for a drawing,” she said. “We own the Sonic Drive-In in Humboldt, where the Manning Tennessee State Veterans Home is, and they will provide a free slush for the residents there.
“Our company tries to give back to the community as much as possible, focusing on our veterans, our teachers and the ones who are most in need in the community. I don’t think there is a better cause that we could have chosen to start with to be more involved in the community than veterans.”
PHOTO: Skyhawk Battalion cadets and others are shown making the Veterans Walk in 2022 from the Boling University Center to the Capt. Brent Morel Memorial Bridge. The walk is a traditional part of Veterans Week celebrations, and will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 5.
